BatteryPool Announces Safer Battery‑Control Architecture
BatteryPool, an Indian deep‑tech fintech startup, announced that its battery‑control architecture is deliberately designed so that batteries can be controlled only at the charging point and never while the vehicle is in motion, thereby making mid‑ride shutdowns impossible. This design directly addresses recent incidents in which unauthorized Bluetooth access to e‑rickshaw batteries allowed individuals to cut power remotely, stranding drivers with passengers and causing an estimated loss of ₹400‑500 in daily earnings per driver.
Technical Safeguards
BatteryPool’s control layer is built on encrypted firmware embedded in both the Battery Management System (BMS) and the charger. The two units communicate exclusively through an encrypted handshake over the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus. Battery‑level commands are not exposed via open Bluetooth channels or unsecured public app interfaces; access is limited to authorized internal systems, designated personnel and the BMS itself, eliminating any wireless surface for external devices to pair with. Additionally, BatteryPool batteries are configured to operate only with authorized charging infrastructure, which minimizes risks from incompatible chargers, improves battery‑health management and ensures assets remain within a secure, monitored ecosystem. Approximately 90 % of BatteryPool’s batteries use India‑made BMS hardware rather than imported systems.
Founder’s Statement
Ashwin Shankar, Founder of BatteryPool, stated that “connected batteries must be treated as digital assets” and that the recent BMS‑related incidents underscore that battery security is now integral to battery safety. He explained that the architecture, originally built roughly 1.5 years ago to enforce a sachet‑style EMI payment model for pay‑per‑use drivers, inadvertently solved a safety problem by restricting control to the charging environment.
Business Metrics and Partnerships
BatteryPool reports a sub‑1 % non‑performing asset (NPA) rate in an industry that typically exceeds 10 %, and residual battery values of roughly 85 % even years beyond standard OEM warranty periods. The company works with 15 fleet operators across 11 cities and partners with NBFCs Finayo and AMU, battery OEMs Livguard and ipower, as well as vehicle OEMs Numeros, Jitendra and Odyssey to drive EV adoption at scale.
Outlook
BatteryPool advocates a shift from reactive fixes to a security‑by‑design approach, emphasizing that safer, more resilient battery systems will be foundational as India accelerates its EV transition, benefiting drivers, fleet operators, financiers and passengers throughout the battery lifecycle.